Welcome to The Singing Viola which is one of the Singing Instrumentalist series of books written for beginners of all instruments.

The book gives a selection of entertaining repertoire and a thorough and complete musical experience from the very beginning.

It is presented in four sections, each designed to introduce a particular aspect of music making, whilst taking on board instrumental skills. We invite teachers to use The Singing Viola as they see fit, mixing and matching sections and songs to give a balanced and enjoyable combination of singing, playing an accompaniment, playing the melody, rhythm work, composition and playing duets.

The book enables pupils, teachers and parents to make a successful start with the chosen instrument.

When the book has been completed, The Singing Violaist will have developed a clear understanding of the function of notation, an ear that can hear tuning and two parts and also be able to enjoy more dissonance as well as pure harmony. The Singing Violaist should be well on the way to becoming a ‘Complete Instrumentalist’, which is, coincidentally, the name of the book that follows this one!

Jane Cutler 
Director of DaCapo Music

You can find more DaCapo pieces for young instrumentalists at DaCapo Music Shop

Welcome to The Singing Cello which is one of the Singing Instrumentalist series of books written for beginners of all instruments.

The book gives a selection of entertaining repertoire and a thorough and complete musical experience from the very beginning.

It is presented in four sections, each designed to introduce a particular aspect of music making, whilst taking on board instrumental skills. We invite teachers to use The Singing Cello as they see fit, mixing and matching sections and songs to give a balanced and enjoyable combination of singing, playing an accompaniment, playing the melody, rhythm work, composition and playing duets.

The book enables pupils, teachers and parents to make a successful start with the chosen instrument.

When the book has been completed, The Singing Cellist will have developed a clear understanding of the function of notation, an ear that can hear tuning and two parts and also be able to enjoy more dissonance as well as pure harmony. The Singing Cellist should be well on the way to becoming a ‘Complete Instrumentalist’, which is, coincidentally, the name of the book that follows this one!

Jane Cutler
Director of DaCapo Music

You can find more DaCapo pieces for young instrumentalists at DaCapo Music Shop

Welcome to The Singing Violin which is one of the Singing Instrumentalist series of books written for beginners of all instruments.

The book gives a selection of entertaining repertoire and a thorough and complete musical experience from the very beginning.

It is presented in four sections, each designed to introduce a particular aspect of music making, whilst taking on board instrumental skills. We invite teachers to use The Singing Violin as they see fit, mixing and matching sections and songs to give a balanced and enjoyable combination of singing, playing an accompaniment, playing the melody, rhythm work, composition and playing duets.

The book enables pupils, teachers and parents to make a successful start with the chosen instrument.

When the book has been completed, The Singing Violinist will have developed a clear understanding of the function of notation, an ear that can hear tuning and two parts and also be able to enjoy more dissonance as well as pure harmony. The Singing Violinist should be well on the way to becoming a ‘Complete Instrumentalist’, which is, coincidentally, the name of the book that follows this one!

Jane Cutler 
Director of DaCapo Music

You can find more DaCapo pieces for young instrumentalists at DaCapo Music Shop

Welcome to The Singing Guitar which is one of the Singing Instrumentalist series of books written for beginners of all instruments.

The book gives a selection of entertaining repertoire and a thorough and complete musical experience from the very beginning.

It is presented in four sections, each designed to introduce a particular aspect of music making, whilst taking on board instrumental skills. We invite teachers to use The Singing Guitar as they see fit, mixing and matching sections and songs to give a balanced and enjoyable combination of singing, playing an accompaniment, playing the melody, rhythm work, composition and playing duets.

The book enables pupils, teachers and parents to make a successful start with the chosen instrument.

When the book has been completed, The Singing Guitarist will have developed a clear understanding of the function of notation, an ear that can hear tuning and two parts and also be able to enjoy more dissonance as well as pure harmony. The Singing Guitarist should be well on the way to becoming a ‘Complete Instrumentalist’, which is, coincidentally, the name of the book that follows this one!

Jane Cutler 
Director of DaCapo Music

You can find more DaCapo pieces for young instrumentalists at DaCapo Music Shop

Welcome to The Singing Piano which is one of the Singing Instrumentalist series of books written for beginners of all instruments.

The book gives a selection of entertaining repertoire and a thorough and complete musical experience from the very beginning.

It is presented in four sections, each designed to introduce a particular aspect of music making, whilst taking on board instrumental skills. We invite teachers to use The Singing Piano as they see fit, mixing and matching sections and songs to give a balanced and enjoyable combination of singing, playing an accompaniment, playing the melody, rhythm work, composition and playing duets.

The book enables pupils, teachers and parents to make a successful start with the chosen instrument.

When the book has been completed, The Singing Pianist will have developed a clear understanding of the function of notation, an ear that can hear tuning and two parts and also be able to enjoy more dissonance as well as pure harmony. The Singing Pianist should be well on the way to becoming a ‘Complete Instrumentalist’, which is, coincidentally, the name of the book that follows this one!

Jane Cutler 
Director of DaCapo Music

You can find more DaCapo pieces for young instrumentalists at DaCapo Music Shop

Welcome to The Singing Trombone which is one of the Singing Instrumentalist series of books written for beginners of all instruments.

The book gives a selection of entertaining repertoire and a thorough and complete musical experience from the very beginning.

It is presented in four sections, each designed to introduce a particular aspect of music making, whilst taking on board instrumental skills. We invite teachers to use The Singing Trombone as they see fit, mixing and matching sections and songs to give a balanced and enjoyable combination of singing, playing an accompaniment, playing the melody, rhythm work, composition and playing duets.

The book enables pupils, teachers and parents to make a successful start with the chosen instrument.

When the book has been completed, The Singing Trombonist will have developed a clear understanding of the function of notation, an ear that can hear tuning and two parts and also be able to enjoy more dissonance as well as pure harmony. The Singing Trombonist should be well on the way to becoming a â??Complete Instrumentalistâ??, which is, coincidentally, the name of the book that follows this one!

Jane Cutler 
Director of DaCapo Music

You can find more DaCapo pieces for young instrumentalists at DaCapo Music Shop

Welcome to The Singing Double Bass which is one of the Singing Instrumentalist series of books written for beginners of all instruments.

The book gives a selection of entertaining repertoire and a thorough and complete musical experience from the very beginning.

It is presented in four sections, each designed to introduce a particular aspect of music making, whilst taking on board instrumental skills. We invite teachers to use The Singing Double Bass as they see fit, mixing and matching sections and songs to give a balanced and enjoyable combination of singing, playing an accompaniment, playing the melody, rhythm work, composition and playing duets.

The book enables pupils, teachers and parents to make a successful start with the chosen instrument.

When the book has been completed, The Singing Double Bassist will have developed a clear understanding of the function of notation, an ear that can hear tuning and two parts and also be able to enjoy more dissonance as well as pure harmony. The Singing Double Bassist should be well on the way to becoming a ‘Complete Instrumentalist’, which is, coincidentally, the name of the book that follows this one!

Jane Cutler 
Director of DaCapo Music

You can find more DaCapo pieces for young instrumentalists at DaCapo Music Shop

Orchestraining is a cycle of orchestral studies, each of which focuses on different aspects of performance. These studies are specifically designed for non-professional orchestras, although any orchestra will improve by playing some of these pieces during rehearsals. It is always necessary to pay attention to intonation and many other aspects of orchestral performance.

In addition, these studies are also useful for orchestral conducting students. For example, it is essential to know how to conduct a simultaneous attack of a chord that does not begin on the first beat, but a eighth note after the third beat.

I began writing these studies around 2013, when I took over the direction of the Bremer Orchestergemeinschaft and noticed the complete absence of repertoire of this kind. As a pianist, I am accustomed to studies by Carl Czerny or playing scales. Each individual instrumentalist knows studies of technique for their instrument. However, there are no, or at least I am not aware of, similar studies for orchestral performance technique and the specific difficulties of ensemble playing that it requires. The cycle Orchestraining aims to fill this gap.

The particular study Orchestraining Nr. 01 focuses on the subject of simultaneous attacks, presenting a series of staccato chords in different parts of the bar. The piece will be played twice, with different dynamics and (partly) different performing techniques (particularly in the strings: pizzicato vs. arco).

Orchestraining No. 01 - simultaneous attacks

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Orchestraining es un ciclo de estudios orquestales, cada uno de los cuales tematiza diferentes aspectos de la ejecución. Estos estudios están concebidos específicamente para orquestas no profesionales; sin embargo, cualquier orquesta mejorará si toca alguna de estas piezas durante los ensayos. Siempre es necesario cuidar la afinación y muchos otros aspectos de la ejecución orquestal.

Adicionalmente, estos estudios son también útiles para estudiantes de dirección orquestal. Por ejemplo, es imprescindible saber cómo dirigir un ataque simultáneo de un acorde que no comienza en el uno, sino una corchea después del tercer tiempo.

Comencé a escribir estos estudios hacia 2013, cuando asumí la dirección de la Bremer Orchestergemeinschaft y noté la ausencia total de repertorio de este tipo. Como pianista estoy acostumbrado a los estudios de Carl Czerny o a tocar escalas. Cada instrumentista, individualmente, conoce sobradamente estudios de técnica para su instrumento. Sin embargo no existen, o no conozco, estudios similares para la técnica de ejecución orquestal y las dificultades específicas de ensamblaje que ésta requiere. El ciclo Orchestraining intenta cubrir esta laguna.

El estudio Orchestraining Nr. 01 en particular trata el tema de los ataques simultáneos, presentando una serie de acordes staccato en distintas partes del compás. La obra se tocará dos veces, con distintas dinámicas y (en parte) con distintas técnicas de ejecución (particularmente en las cuerdas: pizzicato vs. arco).